To reach a surplus of $3.7 billion what promises were not kept? What commitments ignored? What responsibilities shirked?

Often governments during showy photo-ops commit to projects and funding with other provincial, municipal or even private partners that are not completed, or even started. The public see the front page and evening news commitment, but seldom hear about the lack of follow-through.

Our federal government should be like the best parents who care about their children’s futures, not just about the next four years of an election period. How is our government planning for safe, viable, healthy futures for all Canadians? What environmental inspections were not done? What endangered species have been abandoned? What infrastructure projects put on the back burner in order to create this false surplus?

Has this government significantly improved educational opportunities, housing and sanitation for our First Nations? What Canadian veterans still wait for fair treatment and compensation for their injuries?

From agriculture to universal health care, decisions made by the Conservative government impact on the lives of families. Surplus budgets come at a cost — a high cost to everyday Canadian families. What hasn’t been done and won’t be done for the many, in order to give tax breaks to the few prior to the next election?

A realistic balance sheet is needed.

Maret Sadem-Thompson, Oshawa

Watching fraudulent Flaherty, when asked to comment on his amigo, Mayor Rob Ford, was such an amazing sight as I thought he was going to burst into tears as he actually choked up and got teary eyed.

What a country and conglomoration of high profile politicians. Stephen Harper, Flaherty and Ford: the three stooges, with Doug Ford as the occasional drop in to make up the Marx Brothers.

Emanuel D. Samuel, Toronto

Congratulations, Jim Flaherty. By 2015 you predict a $3.7 billion surplus just in time for the next election.

It comes on the back of the poor: the veterans cut off from their pensions and offices, the aboriginals up north who have no safe water or housing, the unemployed, the transfers to the provinces, cutbacks in the food inspectors, etc.